The National Geographic Magazine
Dr. iaymmnil A. ]illon
High on the Foreyard the Crew Furls the Huge Square Sail
Here the canvas has been clewed up (corners hauled up) from the deck and the men are gathering
it in. Standing on the footrope, they lean over the yard and pull in the sail, holding to the handrail on
top, for the motto of a good sailor is "One hand for the ship and one for yourself."
No wonder the Pitcairners are considered
some of the world's finest boatmen. The Aus
tralian Navy often challenges them to a rowing
race when there happen to be a few in New
Zealand. The Pitcairners, with just a pick-up
crew, always win in the Navy's own boats.
With logs loaded by midafternoon, we
sailed around to the lee side of the island.
Here the Pitcairners brought aboard thou
sands of coconuts from palms planted years
ago.
That night we sailed back for Pitcairn.
The men, worn and tired, sang hymns all
the way.
Pitcairners Stage Farewell "Show"
When the day came for us to leave Pitcairn,
there was half a gale blowing. All of the
Yankee's boats were ashore. We didn't see
how they could be brought out through the
surf. But the Pitcairn men figured differently.
With three men to a boat, two with oars
and one steering, they took our small craft
right through the breakers. One dinghy came
near standing on end. It looked as if the
oarsmen would be thrown right over the stern.
The Yankee's cabins and decks were
crowded with Pitcairners, all good friends
come to say good-by. Every one brought a
farewell gift. Each family had given a share
of sugar, a cupful of peas. Some even donated
cans of syrup and English jam. It was heart
breaking to accept such things when we knew
how hard they came, but we could not refuse
Pitcairn gifts (page 31).
Several young men passed us their dollars,
hard-earned and often-counted, with the re
quest to buy pants in Tahiti.
"Khaki, please."
As a sailor's parting gesture, the Pitcairners
manned our windlass and brought our anchor
up in record time. Then they sang a farewell
song, climbed into their boats and were lost
in the night.
We set a course for the Samoa Islands.